Check your oil.
Olive oil’s a pantry staple, especially when you’re spending extra time in the kitchen. But, it can go from fresh to rancid fairly easily.
Here, 3 things you can do to prevent spoilage:
1. Use an opaque container with a tight cap. Exposure to light and air can cause oxidization and create free radicals.
2. Smell the oil regularly. If it’s peppery and grassy, you’re good to go. If it has a waxy, crayon-like odor, it’s past its prime.
3. Check the label: Higher quality product will have a “harvest” date rather than a “bottle” date. Consume it within 18 months of the harvest date.
Watch a sea stream.
Simply seeing fish swim is a peaceful experience, says Lori Connell, a Tier 3+ personal trainer at Equinox locations across New York City. There’s research to back it up: Studies have shown that aquarium-watching can reduce stress and anxiety levels and decrease heart rate.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is live-streaming their jellyfish, leopard sharks, and more around the clock on their website. According to the research it only takes about five minutes to get the effect.
Do not disturb.
Tension can rise if someone is distracting you when you’re trying to work (see: TikTok’s #workdistractions), says Viviana Coles, DMFT, licensed marriage and family therapist based in Houston. To avoid interjections, set some rules around when you’re free to talk and when you’re not.
Coles suggests choosing a piece of clothing or an accessory (like AirPods or a specific sweater) that, when you’re wearing it, shows you’re on the clock—and shouldn’t be disturbed. You’ll be more productive, and when you are ready to check out and catch up, you can have more in-depth conversations.
